Factory Tours

Go behind-the-scenes of some the area's most beloved brands

Take a self-guided multimedia tour through the state-of-the-art Asher’s Chocolates facility in Souderton, PA and watch chocolate treats being made at the oldest family-owned and -operated candy manufacturer in the US. Tours leave from the Victorian store and are available Mon.-Fri. Cameras not permitted. FREE

Color takes new form at the self-guided Crayola Factory discovery center in Easton, PA. See how Crayola crayons are made during a live demonstration and then stick around to explore attractions where you can create melted wax masterpieces, Model Magic creations, your own coloring page and a unique multi-color marker. $$$

Kids 12 and up are able to tour the Harley Davidson Vehicle Operations factory floor in York, PA. Meanwhile, younger sibs can enjoy the Tour Center Mon.-Fri., complete with exhibits about the manufacturing and assembly processes, production motorcycles you can sit on and a special Kids’ Rally activity area. FREE

Discover the process behind the perfect potato chip, cheese curl and tortilla chip during the one-hour Herr’s Snack Factory walking tour available Mon.-Fri. in Nottingham, PA. Each tour starts with the history of Herr’s in Chipper’s Theatre and ends with a free sample. Reservations required; cameras not permitted. FREE

At the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, families walk through the company’s history, see the original ovens and watch the bakers twist pretzels by hand. Then it’s time to test those knot-making skills. On the tour, available Mon.-Sat. in Lilitz, PA, everyone gets a piece of dough and is taught how to twist a pretzel. $

Ten-four. Good buddies, ages 7 and up, can see how heavy-duty vocational and construction trucks are made on this 1½-mile walking tour of the Mack Truck Assembly Operations in Macungie, PA; reservations required. FREE

Follow the evolution of a guitar from rough lumber to finished product — a process that involves more than 300 steps. The one-hour tour of the Martin Guitar Company in Nazareth, PA, available Mon.-Fri., explores the art of guitar-making, showcasing tools from the past and the company’s current state-of-the-art facility. FREE

Designed for ages 6 and up, the guided QVC Studios walking tour provides a panoramic look behind the scenes of the TV-based retailer, seven days a week in West Chester, PA. Experience how products are sourced, tested, brought to life on air and delivered to customers — and even catch a glimpse of a live broadcast. $$

Pretzel lovers ages 5 and up visit the raw material and finished goods (think robotics at work) warehouses, the packing and oven rooms, and the Factory Store for a free sample on this guided walking tour of Snyder’s of Hanover in Hanover, PA. Must be able to climb stairs; reservations required; cameras not permitted. FREE

At Columbia, PA’s Turkey Hill Experience, take a new approach to a summer staple: ice cream. Sit in a milk truck, milk a mechanical cow and learn about the Turkey Hill culture by brainstorming your own ice cream flavor, packaging and commercial; then, head to the Taste Lab and bring your creation to life — in pint size! Free samples of ice cream and iced tea included. $$$

View the entire 30-minute transformation of a raw spud into a potato chip on this all-ages self-guided tour of the Utz factory, Mon.-Thurs. in Hanover, PA. Then enjoy a free bag of chips to complete the process. FREE